PLA is a thermoplastic polymer made from natural sources such as maize starch or sugar cane, as opposed to many other thermoplastics made from non-renewable resources like petroleum. PLA is used to make 3D printed objects in a variety of industries, from automotive to food packaging. Here are a few reasons why PLA is the most versatile 3D printing filament.
PLA prints can be sanded, polished, and painted with ease, resulting in a better surface finish with minimal work. PLA pieces can also be drilled, milled, and glued, but be careful not to melt them. Keep the procedure slow and the equipment cool to avoid melting your PLA part (you can achieve this with water, WD-40 or proper cutting fluid).
PLA can be colored easily and is available in a wide range of colors and mixes. Wood, charcoal, and even metal can be blended with the substance, and colors can be added to make luminous or sparkling threads. As a result, the number of PLA blends available is practically limitless.
PLA is an environmentally friendly substance since it is biodegradable, non-toxic, and takes less energy to 3D print than petroleum-based materials. It also releases fewer greenhouse emissions. Under the right conditions, PLA parts can typically (naturally) break down within a few years, if not months, compared to petroleum-based thermoplastics, which can take thousands of years to break down.
PLA is one of the most user-friendly material filaments for 3D printing. The substance sticks to a variety of surfaces and doesn’t require a hot print bed, making it even more user-friendly. Unlike ABS, PLA does not generate noxious gases when printed.
When compared to other thermoplastics, PLA has a low printing temperature (for example, the ideal printing temperature for PLA is around 200°C, while ABS is around 250°C). PLA is less prone to distort and clog the nozzle during the printing process because of this. PLA also creates greater surface details and sharper features than ABS and other thermoplastics with higher melting temperatures.
We hope you have enjoyed our recap of the top reasons why PLA is the most versatile 3D filaments. If you are looking to buy PLA filament for your next 3D printing project, be sure to reach out to Filamatrix today!
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